IT was a day for doubles at Limerick last Saturday and Sam Coen rode the second of his career when teaming up with trainer Ado McGuinness for two victories on the card. She’s Smart went to post a 22/1 shot in the EI Electronics Handicap but belied those odds when swooping into the lead over a furlong from home in the six-and-a-half-furlong contest. The Dandy Man filly kept on well in the closing stages to record a half-length win in the colours of Jimmy Fairhurst.
Coen said afterwards: “I was on to Adam (Caffrey) beforehand and he said that he had no luck the last day and, if she brought that run, she’d be bang there today. Thankfully she did.
“We were a small bit worried about the ground but she seemed to handle everything fine. She did it well today.”
Second double
The pair struck again two races later, when Oiche Rua (11/2) landed the 0-60 handicap, run over just shy of a mile. The Alex Zevenberg-owned filly had to overcome traffic problems before getting on top in the closing stages for a length-and-a-quarter win over Spanish Temptress.
“That’s my second double, I rode my first double at Dundalk during the winter,” revealed Coen. “I got a lovely run through the race and the gaps opened when I wanted them to and she quickened up the outside lovely. She’ll probably stay a mile and a quarter in time.”
BILLY Lee was another to visit the winner’s enclosure twice on the card and struck early when Paddy Twomey-trained No Alibi (2/1 favourite) landed the opening Dillon Waste & Recycling Rated Race.
The Merry Fox Stud home-bred led a furlong from home to beat Ja’marr by half a length, following up on her maiden success at Cork back in May.
Twomey said: “She’s a nice filly, she’s been progressive and I thought this was a good race for her. They are hardened handicappers and she’s a well-bred filly having the third run of her life. I thought it was a good performance.”
More ammunition
Lee donned the Amo Racing colours in the maiden, over just shy of a mile, and Marlborough Place held on for victory on his second career outing. The 5/2 shot was to the fore throughout and asserted early in the straight before holding the challenge of Angelight close home for a head victory.
Amo’s Irish representative Ryan McElligott said: “He had a nice first run at the Curragh a month ago. I felt that the longer trip wouldn’t be a problem and quicker ground wouldn’t be a problem.
“He’s done it nicely. Billy said he was still a little raw when he got left in front turning in. I suppose we’ll look for a rated race or a winners’ race next.”
THE colours of Newtown Anner Stud Farm passed the post in front twice with Floresta (5/2) impressing with the style of her victory in the fillies’ maiden over a mile and three furlongs.
The Johnny Murtagh-trained filly swooped to the front with over a furlong and a half to run to post a comprehensive two-and-three-parts-of-a-length win over Lifting Sails.
Winning rider Seamie Heffernan said: “Anyone that has anything to do with her likes her. She had a good run the last day and Johnny said today she was ready for it.
“He said she’ll quicken or she’ll stay, so it doesn’t really matter what way the race goes. He just said to ride her with confidence.”
Lee’s luck changes
The Dermot Weld-trained Camevere (9/1) also carried Maurice Regan’s beige and blue colours to victory in an incident-packed finale.
It was an event marred by a nasty incident running away from the stands, as Woodshaw Whisper fell and brought down Heishybrid. Luckily, Nicola Burns and Billy Lee walked away from their falls, but it later transpired that Lee had suffered a broken collarbone and Burns a broken nose.
At the business end, Chris Hayes delivered Camevere to lead over a furlong out for a length-and-a quarter win over Waterford Flow. Naturally, his first thoughts afterwards were with the jockeys involved in the incident: “It was obviously great to win, but we got an awful shock. We were riding to bury her and smuggle her into the race because she’s got a lot of talent.
“I actually didn’t see the fallers and she jumped Ger Lyons’ animal, but in doing that I landed on Billy and I kicked him ahead of me. That’s all I was really thinking about going up the back straight. Then into the home straight I was trying to figure out where we’d go.
“Maybe there was that much going on in my head and her head that it worked out, because I left it as late as possible and she picked up and won. She has loads of ability, and a beautiful pedigree, so hopefully we can build on it.”
A DECISION to cut his holiday short reaped rich rewards for young Conor Cusack as he partnered his first winner aboard Stepdance in the apprentice handicap. The Henry de Bromhead-trained filly, a winner at Tramore four days previously, went to post 9/4 favourite and was produced by Cusack to lead over a furlong from home. The 17-year-old Waterford native gave her a polished ride to score by half a length from Jurality.
“It’s a great feeling. I was supposed to be out in Spain on holidays but the availability came up to ride this one so I said I’d book a flight home early and thank God, it’s worked out,” said Cusack.
“It’s an amazing feeling. I thought I got there about half a furlong too soon, but nothing got to me then and it was some feeling crossing the line.
“I’m based five minutes away from Henry. I went in there when I was 12. I was in school with Henry’s son Jack so he kind of got me in there and got me started. I just want to dedicate this to him.”